A Vacation with a View

If a picture is worth a thousand words, what would an oceanfront home in La Jolla be worth? For 13 member-owners of The Élan Collection, $1.25 million per share, to be exact.

Earlier this week, The Élan Collection welcomed yet another vacation property to its luxury private residence club: a 4,000 square-foot architectural residence called "Casa del Mar." The property offers the ultimate Southern California vacation retreat: unimpeded ocean views, a private gated entry, exquisite custom detailing, furnishings and artwork, four bedrooms, four bathrooms, lap pool, spa, oceanfront patio and a dramatic wood and glass balcony off the master suite for taking in a romantic sunset or two.

The residence will certainly appeal to those with an eye for detail, says Stan Tonkin, vice president of international marketing and sales for The Élan Collection.

"There are few experiences in life that rival watching the tide change or the sun dipping behind the horizon from your patio," he notes. "Casa del Mar is the epitome of the Southern California vacation."

The question is, who wouldn't mind spending four weeks out of the year with a view like this?

Elan’s Top Three Romantic Haute Spots

There's "staycations" and "transforcations," but why not "romantications"? After all, what better way to say "I love you" than an escape to the powdery white sand beaches of the Caribbean or the rolling hills of California wine country? Since Valentine's Day falls on a weekend this year (which gives lovers everywhere the perfect excuse to get away), we are sharing our top three choices for the most luxurious romantication destinations.

1. Turks and Caicos Islands, British West Indies - Untouched soft powder white sand beaches, turquoise waters, the serenity of swaying palms, and a private 1-acre beachfront estate all your own... what more ingredients do two lovers need for a perfectly intimate tropical getaway? Add in romantic sunsets, a fantasy sailing voyage, a private dinner catered by your own personal chef, and his-and-hers side-by-side massages, and you've got a true Élan experience for couples who want to fall in love all over again. Turks and Caicos has it all.

2. Aspen, Co. – If an elegant island getaway doesn’t warm hearts, there is always a romantic alpine retreat. Many famous and not-so-famous couples find amour amidst Aspen’s white-capped mountains, lush aspen groves, rivers and streams. For the ultimate white Valentine’s next year, Élan couples may keep warm in their own private mountain retreat while enjoying Aspen's vibrant restaurant scene (rivaling fine cuisine found in larger cities), designer shops and art galleries, a day of skiing or snowboarding together, or a little R&R at one of the city’s world-class spas.

3. Napa Valley, Calif. – It isn’t hard to find the romance in a vacation filled with sipping California’s finest wines, tasting local foods prepared by the world’s top chefs, or floating in a hot air balloon above sun-kissed vineyards and oak-lined hills. Napa Valley wine country is tailor-made for romance…which is one reason why The Élan Collection has plans to add a distinctive Napa Valley estate to its portfolio later this year.

Regardless of a couple’s destination, the romance of The Élan Collection comes down to luxury, privacy, and A-list service. Whether it’s placement of an elegant floral bouquet, a bottle of Dom Pérignon, or the finest Belgian truffles, no personal Valentine’s Day request will be out of bounds for the Élan concierge.

How are you going to celebrate this Valentine's Day with élan? What are your top picks for romantic haute spots?

State of the Luxury Fractional Real Estate Market: An Interview with Sherman Potvin

What’s the state of the luxury fractional real estate market? How has the recession impacted the fractional shared ownership industry, and why is it opening up opportunities for some private residence clubs, such as The Élan Collection? We turned to Sherman Potvin, legendary fractional expert, founder of Luxury Fractional Guide and Fractional International and author of "Fractionalize to Maximize: Dividing Your Vacation Home Into Profit,” for answers this week.

According to Potvin, it’s too early to tell how the recession will impact the fractional industry. “But we can be certain about one thing,” he predicts. “It will be changing.”

While the recession hasn’t had a huge impact on the top 5 percent of the world’s wealthiest people in general, it has affected their vacation home buying habits. Potvin believes most buyers will do more research now, as well as search out alternative vacation home opportunities…like fractional shared ownership private residence clubs. Another upside to the recession?

“It has pushed many real estate agents to get creative,” he says. “Real estate folks who once ignored the fractional market are now searching for knowledge as to how to sell fractional homes.”

Potvin, who has worked with some of the top names in the business such as Intrawest and the Ritz Carlton Club, has spent the last seven years educating real estate agents about the benefits of selling fractional homes. He believes the real estate community holds the key to the industry’s growth.

“The sooner they acknowledge that fractional real estate is not a fad and embrace the concept, the more services they can offer their clients,” he says. “They are finally getting the message.”

What do you think? Are agents getting the message in your network?

Haute Living: Wave of Yacht Sales A Boon for Luxury Fractional Private Residence Clubs?

The Haute Living blog today reported that European yacht-making companies like Princess Yachts and Beneteau SA are rolling out their most expensive models yet. According to the post, "Princess Yachts received their first $19.5 million order to build its largest boat ever (a 130-foot vessel)" while "Beneteau, the world’s largest maker of sailboats, and HanseYachts AG, Germany’s largest yacht maker, are also predicting higher revenues."

What's the hook? It could mean that the affluent "are beginning to spend again, as the demand for larger and more modern vessels picks up," Haute Living concludes. We find this news encouraging on a number of fronts. Wealthy buyers seem to be riding a wave of confidence as everything from yacht sales to high-end jewelry sales have been up recently. Additionally, experts say that high-end yacht purchases are almost always paid for in cash--which is also true for the majority of fractionals in ultra luxury private residence clubs.

What's your view on Haute Living's post?